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Lillestrom GP Discussion
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| redordead |
Posted on 22-11-2025 08:51
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Team Leader

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Welcome to the 9th edition of the Lillestrom GP one day race. The coverage crew were already on their way here for the Tour of Norway, but we'll be taking care of this cobbled classic a day before as well. This classic gives a more Roubaix-ish vibe. It's mostly flat with just a little short rise in each lap. But since we have laps we have consistent cobbled sectors, 16 in total to be exact. Without the more typical cobbled bergs we likely won't see those huge splits at once, but in theory this should be an attritional with every cobbled section sapping the riders energies.
With that said let's look at some of the favourites:
| FL | ST | RS | CB | SP | AC | Girmay | 77 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 77 | 76 | Zepuntke | 72 | 79 | 72 | 82 | 72 | 65 | Wisniowski | 78 | 72 | 73 | 81 | 71 | 73 | Stallaert | 75 | 73 | 65 | 79 | 77 | 73 | Kasperkiewicz | 76 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 59 | 67 | Tediashvili | 75 | 76 | 78 | 76 | 71 | 71 | Schreurs | 72 | 75 | 75 | 77 | 72 | 71 | Polanc | 71 | 77 | 72 | 77 | 66 | 74 | Darbinyan | 72 | 72 | 71 | 76 | 76 | 74 | Van Lerberghe | 73 | 73 | 72 | 76 | 74 | 71 | Hvideberg | 78 | 74 | 74 | 76 | 65 | 65 | Moulingui | 74 | 71 | 71 | 78 | 65 | 68 |
I got Girmay at the top. I don't feel great about it, but he's shown he can hang around and he has the finish at the end if needed. This looks like a good race for Zepuntke. He should be the best at handling the cobbled sections and he has a good team around him. I like Wisniowski here as well, but he doesn't have the same level of support. I think that gives him slightly less margin for error. Stallaert is basically an older, weaker version of Girmay. I'm not sure he's strong enough to win the race, but I like him winning against pretty much anyone in a 2nd group. Kasperkiewicz is the defending champion and he's still looking for a great result this year. I think being aggressive is the way to go and he has solid support if needed. Tediashvili has been more hit and miss this year, with a lower cobble stat than others he needs those energy stats to work for him. Schreurs has been the better rider between him and Kuroeda so he makes the list for Everesting. I've got Polanc here, but his climbing ability is not needed for this race. Darbinyan and Van Lerberghe are here to represent the CT, both at their best if they can sprint for a high placing. Hvideberg has a high flat stat going for him in a race that's mostly flat. Moulingui low key has one of the better cobble stats even if otherwise he's mediocre, but Trans have a deep squad and they seem to be in the mix more often than not.
| FL | ST | RS | CB | SP | AC | Kuroeda | 74 | 72 | 73 | 77 | 74 | 78 | Louvel | 77 | 75 | 78 | 76 | 67 | 67 | Teggart | 73 | 76 | 73 | 76 | 72 | 70 | Sulimov | 72 | 75 | 69 | 78 | 64 | 69 | Pithie | 73 | 74 | 73 | 75 | 73 | 74 | Mengoulas | 76 | 76 | 72 | 75 | 65 | 74 | Peng | 75 | 74 | 73 | 75 | 69 | 73 | Kuroeda | 71 | 74 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 71 | Nareklishvili | 72 | 73 | 73 | 77 | 64 | 71 | Kolev | 75 | 73 | 71 | 77 | 62 | 67 | Kumara | 74 | 74 | 70 | 75 | 71 | 67 | Muhindo | 74 | 74 | 71 | 75 | 68 | 64 | Habimana | 73 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 66 | 71 | Roosen | 74 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 66 | 71 | Van Keirsbulck | 70 | 72 | 70 | 76 | 68 | 65 | Orue | 69 | 77 | 70 | 78 | 53 | 58 | Insausti | 69 | 75 | 72 | 76 | 56 | 65 | Mestric | 73 | 69 | 70 | 76 | 55 | 65 | Centrone | 74 | 72 | 67 | 76 | 53 | 58 |
We saw what Peng did in Le Samyn so here are all the other 75+ cobblers. Maybe one of them has the winning ticket 
Full startlist:
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 22-11-2025 09:44
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Sprinter

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Thanks for the preview, red!
We have a huge opportunity in this race as the parcours should benefit Zepuntke as much as possible, but this also means it's a huge opportunity for disappointment. I'm thrilled nonetheless!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 22-11-2025 10:03
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Classics Specialist

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Fear this race won't be tough enough for Kaspa to make a difference but fingers crossed! Thanks for the preview!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 22-11-2025 16:49
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Small Tour Specialist

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Letsago Tedia
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 22-11-2025 18:31
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Team Leader

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March hasn't been a great month so far so a good result here would be very welcome. Cobbles has provided some good racing this season so I'm hopeful we can get a good show for us here. Thanks for the preview red!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 10:31
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 22-11-2025 20:11
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Classics Specialist

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Thank you redordead 
We don't have much of a squad to fight for good placements, but we're on home sil, so hopefully we can show off ourselves in the break! |
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| seancoll |
Posted on 23-11-2025 14:54
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Breakaway Specialist

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Let's go PCT teams - show the lower division who's boss! Beyond that, just rooting for my old riders - Orue, Muhindo, and I guess Kuroeda who was on my team for 2 days!
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-11-2025 17:55
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Grand Tour Specialist

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Hoping for a good result from Leerberghe here, even though the field is most likely too strong for him
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| Heine |
Posted on 24-11-2025 11:00
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Grand Tour Specialist

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Just not strong enough in this field, worth a try though
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 24-11-2025 11:51
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Classics Specialist

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As much as I love to see a GVK top 10, it's pretty apparent that the racing is good but the cobbles sections are just not tough enough across most cobbles races so far, but that should be a simple fix for next season!
Congrats to jph on a great result and thanks to Rod for a great report!
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| SotD |
Posted on 24-11-2025 12:24
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World Champion

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Oh I really do not like this game in terms of cobbles. I might have made a mistake going so hard for Altur when riders like Boutopoulos would likely have scored equally high considering these results.
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 24-11-2025 13:47
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Classics Specialist

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whitejersey wrote:
As much as I love to see a GVK top 10, it's pretty apparent that the racing is good but the cobbles sections are just not tough enough across most cobbles races so far, but that should be a simple fix for next season!
Congrats to jph on a great result and thanks to Rod for a great report! 
100% could be something to look at next season as these 3* sectors are just not enough to create gaps for the strong cobbled riders currently. There's Tour Of Faso coming that has multiple 5* sectors that can give a better indication of the difference from what we are seeing here compared to what a 5* sector does |
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 24-11-2025 16:03
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Sprinter

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Thanks for the report to red and congrats once again to jph!
The race didn't went the way we thought, but Ruben would probably have finished around 8th anyway, so we can live with the result.
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 24-11-2025 19:04
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Protected Rider

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Very good result for Darbinyan on his first race as a leader of the season (if only I sent him in GW...), though quite unconventional! Nice we followed the right attack.
Congrats JPH for the win, thanks red for the report!
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 24-11-2025 20:54
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Small Tour Specialist

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Certainly did not expect Manakov to be our rider with the best result in a cobbled classic at this point this season. 4th is brilliant for him! An okay result for us as well overall even though this was a lost opportunity for Wisniowski.
Congrats to jph on another brilliant win! And thanks for the report!
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| jph27 |
Posted on 25-11-2025 12:43
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Team Leader

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I did not expect anything more than a couple of riders in minor points places, fantastic result for us here!
When I saw both Dekker and Pithie in the move I was optimistic we might be able to do something if it came down to a sprint, but still thought there was a chance they'd get caught. That's two 1sts and a 2nd from the three cobbled races this month, no pressure on vdP in Dunkerque then...
Thanks for the report red, and thanks everyone for the congratulations! |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 25-11-2025 22:45
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Team Leader

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Ouch. What a shame. Schreurs seemed poised for a top result, following the strongest attack and even getting the better of his fellow attackers. It wasn't our time to collect the race honours yet.
Another freat result for Bolt though. Congrats jph, seems you've managed to find your momentum.
Great report as well red, thanks!
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